Football refers to two very different sports, depending on where you are in the world.

1. In the United States and Canada, football is a game where two teams of eleven players try to advance an oval-shaped ball down a 100-yard field by running with it or throwing it. Players wear helmets and pads because the game involves tackling, where defenders bring down the player carrying the ball. The team that scores the most points by crossing into the opponent's end zone or kicking the ball through tall goalposts wins. American football combines strategy, strength, and teamwork: coaches design complex plays, and each position has specific jobs. The Super Bowl, the championship game, is one of the biggest sporting events in America.
2. In most other countries, football means what Americans call soccer: a game where players use their feet to kick a round ball into the opponent's goal. Only the goalkeeper can use their hands. This version of football is the world's most popular sport, played in nearly every country. The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, brings together national teams from around the globe.